Education

How to Choose The Right School for Your Child
By Teresa Carson

Ronna Neuenschwander did everything right. The southeast Portland mother of two hoped her artistic daughter would go from Buckman Elementary School’s arts program to the arts magnet da Vinci Middle School or to Mt. Tabor Middle School. But when her daughter did not get into either choice, Neuenschwander set out to find the best school for her child.

“We looked at the neighborhood school, we looked at other public schools we had not considered, we looked at some private schools and even considered home schooling,” Neuenschwander said. After extensive research, lots of soul searching, dozens of conversations and many school visits, Neuenschwander’s daughter Penda landed at Portland Public School’s Jackson Middle School.

Whether a parent is looking at preschool or high school, the experts’ advice is to follow much of what Neuenschwander did in picking a school for Penda. Think about your child’s learning style and needs. Keep an open mind. Do your homework.

Let Your Child Lead You

Before you even start, think about how your child learns and her personality. Try to be realistic about her strengths and weaknesses. If you are looking at preschools, for example, “watch your child on the playground. Is she more verbal, have good physical abilities? How does he relate to the other children?” Alexa Parker, elementary education coordinator at University of Oregon College of Education says.

“Parents need to get over the ‘what I’d like my child to be interested in or be like,’” frame of mind, says Sara McCormick Davis, professor of early childhood and elementary education at Portland State University. An active child who loves sports over all else might not flourish in a rigorously academic setting, no matter how much a parent might wish otherwise. “Ask yourself, would my child choose this program?” McCormick Davis says.

Consider Your Neighborhood School

Some families immediately rule out the local public school based on bad buzz. But don’t overlook your neighborhood school, experts advise. Many of them are far better than the hearsay. “There is something to be said for the neighborhood school,” Alexa Parker, elementary education coordinator at the University of Oregon College of Education says. There are the logistical reasons – having your child’s school within walking distance – but it’s also a plus that children who attend school with friends from their neighborhood feel more a part of their immediate community.

And despite near panic about the deterioration of Oregon’s public schools, “Oregon and Portland public schools, with a few exceptions, are still very good,” Parker says. Public schools are also free, which is a big plus for most families.

Unlike many communities across the U.S., metropolitan area parents have a lot of choice in public schools. Although it has tightened transfer rules recently, causing much parental grousing, Portland Public Schools (PPS) still has a relatively liberal transfer policy that promotes student access to programs ranging from charter schools to science magnets to Chinese immersion. While PPS, as the largest metropolitan school district, boasts the greatest variety of options, a number of choices can also be found at other local school districts. For example, Beaverton School District has an Arts and Communications Magnet Academy serving grades six through 12 and a high school level School of Science and Technology. Vancouver School District high schools offer magnet programs in culinary arts, computer networking and civil engineering, among other possibilities. Parents should inquire about focus and magnet opportunities at their local school district.

What to Look for in a School Generally

Many parents start their search by looking at a school’s test scores. Although test scores can be a helpful tool in evaluating a school, experts warn against placing too much emphasis on these numbers. “If they’re teaching to the test, this may take the place of more authentic teaching,” McCormick Davis says.

When considering a school, think about the rest of your child’s school career. Which middle and high schools does your perfect little elementary school feed into? These schools should also be considered as you choose your child’s first school. If you plan to transfer out after fifth grade you should realize that once a student makes friends, they may balk at leaving their buddies to head off to a different middle or high school.

Research the schools you’re considering. Talk to other parents. School districts and individual schools can provide a lot of information. Many have Web sites that answer many questions. Schools have kindergarten round-ups, open houses, ice cream socials and other events to familiarize parents with their schools. Test scores can be obtained from the school and from the Oregon Department of Education (www.ode.state.or.us).

Neuenschwander found parents and staff at both Buckman and da Vinci a great source of guidance on other options for her reserved and creative daughter. “Someone at da Vinci suggested Jackson. We had never even heard of Jackson,” Neuenschwander, a well-known local artist says. “We were open to all ideas.”

What to Look for Specifically

Once you have narrowed your research to a few schools, call and schedule visits. “The principals should be happy to answer your questions and show you materials for reading, math and other subjects,” says McCormick Davis.

“Look at the student work on the walls. Does it look creative or are there mostly worksheets,” Parker says, “Are the students actively engaged in learning?”

How does the school feel? Is it friendly, warm? Are students so unruly that nobody can learn? Can you visualize your child in one of the school’s classrooms? “As you are moving through the school, is it dirty? Are the kids disruptive? If people don’t seem to care about the school, you might want to dig deeper into what is going on,” Parker says.

Think about issues such as class and school size. All over Oregon, public school class sizes are growing and PPS has closed some smaller schools. Private schools generally are smaller and pride themselves on lower student-to-teacher ratios.

“Because of the smaller size, there are generally fewer behavior problems and more class time is spent on learning,” Jill Whittaker, admissions and marketing director for the French-American School, says of private schools, “Students get more individual attention and there is a much more timely response for any problems.”

Ask about the school’s educational philosophy. Many area private schools offer alternative approaches to education, some “branded” – well-known methods with hundreds of similar schools around the country – and others more individualized. Probably a majority of schools have mission statements, and although they’re usually vague they can be a place to start a discussion with staff. Ask how the school handles varied ability levels. If a “talented and gifted” program is important, ask what that entails. “Does the school expect students to achieve?” Whittaker asks, and, if so, how is that assumption communicated to students?

“How does the school handle issues of diversity? Is diversity celebrated and respected?” Parker says, “These issues will be very important to a child’s future in the world and workplace.”

Besides looking at the curriculum for the “Three Rs,” also ask about special programs. For example, if your family wants music instruction in school, ask the principal about that. Some schools have excellent music programs, some don’t offer much. “Some things such as physical education, music and art are increasingly being eliminated in public schools. How are the schools handling this? How are the classroom teachers prepared to take on these classes?” Parker says. Ask what extracurricular activities are offered, too.

Many public and private schools in the Portland metropolitan area offer specialized programs, from art and science to language immersion. PPS offers immersion in several languages, although demand for these schools is high and a lottery admission system means that not all interested kids will be assured entrance. The French-American School is one of several private immersion programs. “Immersion is really a whole family decision,” Whittaker says. “The family really needs to understand and be committed to immersion.”

How does the school fit with your family values? A religious school might be right for your family if that is an important part of your family life.

What role do parents play at the school? For working parents, the details of parental involvement may also be important. “When do parent groups meet? Does the PTA or site council ever meet at night?” McCormick Davis asks.

There are also the practical aspects to be considered. If you need after school care, ask about that. “Ask who runs it. Do the kids have to be transported somewhere else?” McCormick Davis says. Neuenschwander does not relish the twice daily 30 minute drive to Jackson, but she and her husband decided it was worth the effort.

Despite the quantity of potential issues that parents can inquire into when searching for a school, the experts also warn against too much worrying about picking the perfect school and becoming overly obsessive about every detail of your child’s education. The majority of kids can get a good education at most metropolitan area schools.
And how are things working out for Penda? “She feels really, really good about school,” Neuenschwander says with a happy sigh.

Teresa Carson is a Portland freelance writer and mom.

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